While everyone was inside, getting ready for the spontaneous wedding that would take place the following day, Ji had to take a moment to step outside. Kate followed him, needing to walk away from the chaos as well.

"I can't believe this," she whispered, running her hands through her hair, "I remember the day you asked me to look out for their mother. Their mother! I was there when she found out she was pregnant with Serena, I was there for Serena's first steps. I was maid of honour at her wedding… now Emily, little Emily, is getting married."

"Mike is a great man," Ji assured her, but this was a shock for him too. He hadn't watched either Samurai grow up like Kate had, but he had spent nearly every day, for two years, watching them, caring for them, training them, and, in a small way, raising them. They were his children. No one could say otherwise.

They were growing up. It was only a matter of time before the others did as well. Only a matter of time before they started their own lives. It dawned on him, because of the wedding, that they were only still living with him because of Xandred. As soon as they defeated him, sealed him away for good, that would be the end. He had ever faith this team would do it. He was certain this would be the last team of Samurai Rangers earth ever needed – and then he had no idea what he had to live for. From the day he was born, years and years ago, he had been raised to serve the Samurai Rangers. He had been raised to help them, in any way, to defeat the Nighlok. When the Nighlok were gone, what would become of him? They wouldn't need him.

Kate noticed Ji's silence and took his hand in hers, "Are you okay?"

"Fine," Ji nodded and tried to mask his worries. He tried to walk away from Kate, back into the house to help Mike get ready, but she didn't let go of his hand.

"C'mon, Ji. This is a big deal. Two of your Samurai are getting married…"

"Move in with me."

If Ji had been trying to get Kate to let go of his hand, mission accomplished. She pulled away from him before he could even finish his sentence and looked to him with horror.

"Excuse me?"

"You know all about the Samurai. It's only a matter of time before they win, leave, and I have the house all to myself."

"Ji, that's Jayden's home," Kate shook her head, "You can't expect him to move out. He has the right to take it from you."

That felt like a kick to the nuts. She was right. It was the Shiba House for a reason. Though his family had lived in the home alongside the Shiba Clan since coming to the United States, the house did belong to Jayden. Surely he would want to stay in the house, and he would want Antonio to stay with him. Ji was coming face to face with the possibility of being kicked out.

Kate took Ji's hand again, seeing he looked very fearful of what she had just said, "I doubt he will. I'm sure you two will talk about who gets the house. Kids usually prefer to move away, not take over. I should have said Jayden gets a say…"

Knowing this was doing nothing to cheer Ji up; Kate placed her hands on her hips and sighed, "Alright, Ji, spill. You were perfectly happily five minutes ago."

Ji looked up to Kate, "This is a lot to process."

"Mike and Emily have been engaged for a while. You must have known this day was coming. I should be the one freaking out…"

"What it means, Kate. Do you have any idea what all this means?" Ji pointed to the house, "Mike and Emily are getting married tomorrow. Soon, we will be back in the Shiba House. It'll be our last sprint against the Nighlok before we get to the finish line, I can feel it. After that, Mia and Kevin will get married. Serena and James will certainly get married. All six of them will move out."

"So?"

"What will become of me after that?"

Kate shrugged her shoulders. She really couldn't speak for the Samurai, even Emily and Serena. She hadn't been around. She could only see the Samurai world through Ji's eyes, through the stories he told her. But based on those stories, she knew one thing for sure.

"You are an important part of their lives now, Ji. Without a doubt, they would be nothing without you. They won't forget that."

"Kids grow up. They move on…"

"You're getting pre-wedding jitters," Kate chuckled. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a warm hug. He responded with his arms around her waist, amazing how comfortable he felt around her after such a short time. They had spoken for a while over the phone, but they only just met face to face about a day before. "You know, Ji, on the phone, when you talked about the Samurai, you sounded like an excited father. It was pretty cute."

"Cute?"

Kate nodded her head, "You see the Samurai like I see Serena and Emily. They aren't my girls, I know that, but I love them just the same. It's been my duty to look out for them, protect them, and you can't do a good job unless you care. You care about those kids, Ji, all of them. They care about you too."

"I'm just Mentor to them…"

"Mentor!" Emily came running out of the house, nearly stumbling down the steps. Barely noticing he was in the middle of a very private conversation with Kate, she rushed up to him and grabbed his arm, "I need your help?"

"What is it?"

"Dad's not here. My dad's supposed to walk me down the aisle. I know this isn't the real big ceremony, but it's the important one!"

"What about Serena…"

"I'm scared she won't let go," Emily shook her head, "Can you do it?"

"Emily…"

"Please, please, please!" Emily begged, pulling out the cutest pleading look she had ever mustered up. JI sighed and nodded his head.

"It would be my honour."

Emily smiled, reached up, and kissed Ji on the cheek before running back inside, almost stumbling again on the steps. Just as she made it back inside, Jayden stepped out. Ji had been absent for a while, and the boys were waiting for him to come back so they could figure out what they were going to do with Mike before the wedding, and what they needed to do during the wedding. Mike wanted them to all have an important role, so they needed to be well prepared.

"Is everything okay out here?" he asked.

Kate gave Ji a smile and pulled her car keys out of her pocket, "Serena and Mia have things under control. I should be getting home. I'll be back tomorrow for the wedding, though. I promise," she kissed his cheek, "You'll be okay, Ji."

As Jayden approached Ji, and Kate walked away, he made a funny face. He was okay with Ji having girl friends, but still uncomfortable with the thought of him having a girlfriend. Ji saw the face and smirked.

"I think we need to talk."

"I got the talk," Jayden assured him, "You and I promised to never speak of that day again, remember?"

"Silence is golden," Ji chuckled and received a sour look from Jayden.

"I get gold puns from my boyfriend all day long. You're not seriously going to start, are you? I don't think I can live with the two of you…"

"Just that one," Ji promised, "What do you need?"

"What?"

"You came out here for a reason, did you not?"

"Oh, right," Jayden nodded his head, "Mike wants you inside so we can start talking about his last night of freedom."

"Then let's go," Ji put his hand between Jayden's shoulders and walked with him towards the house. Halfway there he stopped. "Jayden, you were upset earlier…"

"It's nothing."

"That face you made when Kate kissed me just now…"

"It's nothing."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Kate sooner. I'm sorry I wasn't honest…"

"Ji, it's okay. If she makes you happy, I guess I have to learn to…"

"I don't want to lose you, Jayden. None of you. Especially you."

"Ji…"

"Let's just enjoy this wedding. Hopefully soon, we'll all be back home, and we'll all be feeling so much better."

As Ji started back to the house, Jayden trailed behind. Ji didn't want to lose him… he didn't want to lose Ji.

"So… hypothetically… if you and Kate were to start something serious… what would happen with me, Serena, and Emily?"

Ji turned around and looked to Jayden quizzically, "Excuse me?"

"I mean, you're my father, and Kate kind of strikes me as an aunt figure for the girls. If you two do get married, will that make Emily and Serena my cousins?"

"I… what?"

"Well, you would be their uncle…"

"Jayden, I don't know what you think you saw between Kate and I, but so far, the future between us… undecided…. At best."

"Oh, c'mon," Jayden smirked and gave his father a pat on the back, "She's nice, she's pretty, she's your age. You're not young like me anymore. You're pushing it now, Ji, but once those wrinkles start to take over your face, you'll be lucky if a girl can see what you look like."

"Jayden."

"Yes?"

"Run."